Paris Olympics 2024: Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei wins gold in men's 10,000m with new Olympic record

Joshua Cheptegei registered the second track and field record of Paris Olympics 2024.

Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei, three times world 10,000m champion, became Olympic 10,000m champion in the first track and field final of Paris Olympics 2024 to take place in the Stade de France.

So great was the noise generated by the crowd at the close of this constantly fluctuating race that the bell could barely be heard as the Ugandan set an Olympic record of 26:43.14. Fast-finishing Ethiopian Berihu Aregawi earned silver in 26:43.44 while USA’s Grant Fisher maintained his form to take bronze in 26:43.46.

Cheptegei had finished second at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 in the 10,000m event. The 27-year-old now holds the Olympic and world record in the men’s 10,000m event. Cheptegei also holds the world record in the 5000m event and is looking to win his first Olympic title in the event. The athlete from Uganda will be seen on August 7 during the heats for 5,000m at Paris Olympics 2024.

The packed stadium raised the decibel levels to ear-buzzing proportions during the first of the mixed 4x400m heats, honouring a stunning effort from the United States quartet of Vernon Norwood, Shamier Little, Bryce Deadmon and Kaylyn Brown as the latter came home 40 metres clear in a world record of 3:07.41 that shattered the previous mark of 3:08.80 set by an entirely different US quartet at last year’s World Championships.

Also Read: Paris Olympics 2024: Parul Chaudhary, Ankita Dhyani fail to qualify for women’s 5000m final

Vernon Norwood had the opening leg which he covered in 44.47 seconds as USA had a brilliant start to the race. The baton was passed to Shamier Little who kept the hopes even higher as she ran in 49.32 secs. 

The third leg was taken over by 2023 400m national champion, Bryce Deadmon who extended the lead further with a blistering 44.17 seconds. The final leg saw 19-year-old Kaylyn Brown taking the glorious run to the finish line by covering the field in 49.45 secs at Paris Olympics 2024.

The USA team was leading from the start of the race and they kept pushing the distance till the end. They have become the first team to run a sub 3:08 in the event.

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